Detroit Tigers avoid arbitration with three of four players, including Tarik Skubal
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with three of four arbitration-eligible players.
Ooutfielder Akil Baddoo, catcher Jake Rogers and left-hander Tarik Skubal signed one-year contracts Thursday to avoid arbitration and lock in their salaries for the 2024 season, according to the team. Right-hander Casey Mize did not agree to terms and will be headed to an arbitration hearing in February.
Skubal, who returned from flexor tendon surgery last season, settled with the Tigers at a $2.65 million figure for 2024. Rogers settled at $1.7 million; Baddoo settled at $1.55 million.
YEAR IN REVIEW: Farewell to Miguel Cabrera, improving young players and more to remember in 2023
Skubal, Rogers and Baddoo completed their first year of arbitration eligibility, with Baddoo qualifying for Super Two status. Skubal, Rogers and Mize are under team control through the 2026 season, while Baddoo is under team control through the 2027 season.
Teams and arbitration-eligible players were required agree to salary figures for the 2024 season by 1 p.m. Thursday, followed by another deadline at 8 p.m. Thursday — only for teams and players who didn't agree — to exchange salary figures in preparation for an arbitration hearing.
The Tigers and Mize exchanged salary figures Thursday night and are expected go to an arbitration hearing, where a panel of arbitrators will choose either the Tigers' proposed salary or Mize's proposed salary. The two sides were not close to an agreement throughout Thursday's negotiations.
The Tigers haven't had an arbitration hearing with a player since Michael Fulmer in 2019, with Fulmer eventually losing to the Tigers.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Skubal, 27, is set to be the eighth-highest paid player on the Tigers' roster in 2024, trailing veterans Javier Báez ($25 million), Jack Flaherty ($14 million), Kenta Maeda ($14 million), Mark Canha ($11.5 million), Andrew Chafin ($4.25 million), Carson Kelly ($3.5 million) and Shelby Miller ($3 million).
The Tigers acquired Flaherty, Maeda, Canha, Chafin and Miller this offseason.
Skubal doesn't have as much service time as Flaherty and Maeda, but he projects to be the best pitcher in the starting rotation. He posted a 2.80 ERA with 14 walks and 102 strikeouts across 80⅓ innings in 15 starts last season after returning from flexor tendon surgery. The southpaw won American League Pitcher of the Month in September for his five-start performance, allowing three runs and racking up 43 strikeouts over 30 innings.
CY YOUNG WATCH: Ten predictions for Tigers in 2024: 40 homers, rookie rakes, new closer and more
Rogers, who turns 29 in mid-April, returned from elbow surgery and emerged as the Tigers' starting catcher last season, hitting .221 with 21 home runs in 107 games. He showed above-average framing and blocking on defense. If he maintains his plus-defense and plus-power on offense, the low batting average (and the low on-base percentage) shouldn't be an issue for the Tigers in the immediate future.
Baddoo, 25, qualified for Super Two status as one of the second-year players with the most service time, so he gets four years of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent. Right now, he appears to be on the outside looking in for a spot on the 2024 Opening Day roster because of the Tigers' outfield logjam and surplus of left-handed hitters. Baddoo hit .218 with 11 home runs in 112 games last season, adding 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefings at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers avoid arbitration with three, but not Casey Mize
